Pope, Erdogan discuss Israeli occupation of Palestine

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis spoke to Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday about the war between Hamas and Israel, emphasising the importance of a two-state solution, the Vatican said.

In a statement, it said the telephone call had been requested by Erdogan and focused on the "dramatic situation in the Holy Land".

"The pope expressed his sorrow for what is happening and recalled the position of the Holy See, expressing hope that a two-state solution and a special status for the city of Jerusalem could be achieved." On Oct 7, Hamas gunmen poured from Gaza into Israel, killing more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 224 more, according to official tallies.

Israel has retaliated with relentless strikes that Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said Thursday have killed more than 7,000 people, also mainly civilians - a toll expected to rise substantially if Israeli troops massed near Gaza move in.

The Turkish presidency said in a statement that during the call with the pope, Erdogan had again stated he believed Israel's attack on Gaza had "reached the level of a massacre".

Erdogan added that "the international community's silence about what is happening is a shame for humanity".

Peace was only possible with the establishment of an independent state of Palestine, the Turkish statement said.

Erdogan met Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2018, the first visit by a Turkish leader in nearly 60 years. - AFP